Khasi Hills

Authorities in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district relaxed the curfew for three hours on Thursday morning after violence broke out in parts of the Garo Hills region over the nomination process for the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.The curfew, which had been imposed earlier under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), was relaxed from 8 am to 11 am to allow residents to step out and purchase essential commodities such as food, medicines and other daily necessities. Officials said the temporary relaxation was given to ease difficulties faced by local residents after the restrictions were put in place to control the law and order situation.East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner R P Marak said the administration decided to allow the lim...

The Meghalaya High Court has set aside a notification issued by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) that made Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates compulsory for candidates contesting the upcoming council elections.The court said the order could not stand because it did not follow the proper legal procedure required under existing rules. The notification had been issued by the Chief Executive Member of the council after a resolution adopted by its Executive Committee last month.Through the notification, the council had made it mandatory for all candidates to produce an ST certificate to contest the GHADC elections. The move effectively prevented non-tribal candidates from entering the electoral contest.The order was challenged before the High Court by a voter. The petitioner a...

The Garo National Council (GNC) has released its first list of seven candidates for the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), formally beginning its preparations for the polls scheduled in April. Party leaders said the early announcement is part of a strategy to strengthen the party’s organisational presence and prepare candidates well in advance of the election campaign. According to the party, Augustine R. Marak has been nominated from Silkigre, Nikman Ch. Marak from Rongrikimgre, Jakrak A. Sangma from Amongpara, Deson Marak from Dengnakpara, Geobar B. Marak from Asanang, Sengba D. Sangma from Rongrong, and Chibasai Lampard R. Marak from Williamnagar. These candidates will represent the party in their respective constituencies in the GHADC polls sc...

The number of people who lost their lives in the coal mine explosion in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has increased to 27 after rescue teams recovered two more bodies from the accident site. Officials said search operations are still continuing as several workers are believed to be missing. The explosion occurred at an illegal coal mine located in the Thangskhu area of Umsngat village on Thursday, triggering a large-scale rescue effort involving multiple agencies. Teams from the police, disaster response forces, and local authorities have been working continuously at the site despite difficult terrain, unstable ground conditions, and safety risks inside the abandoned mining pits. Police officials said the latest bodies were found during an intensive search operation carried o...

The East Khasi Hills Police have launched an investigation into the mysterious death of Bipul Inghi, a security guard employed at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), who reportedly died following an incident on the university campus earlier this month. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said on Monday that the police received information about the incident a few days after Inghi’s death, both from the Ri-Bhoi Police and the deceased’s family members. An FIR has since been lodged by the family at Mawlai Police Station. According to the police, Inghi allegedly sustained injuries after a fall inside the NEHU campus at around 7:30 pm on January 6. He was later taken to Supercare Hospital in Shillong, where he succumbed to his injuries on January 8. Syiem stated that t...

Police in Southwest Garo Hills recovered a huge cache of ammunition during a search operation conducted near Santore village on Monday. Acting on reliable source information, a joint team from Salmanpara and Ampati Police Stations carried out the operation in a bamboo grove under the jurisdiction of Salmanpara Police Station. During the search, police unearthed 55 suspected live anti-aircraft ammunition buried in the area. According to a statement issued to the media by the Superintendent of Police, Southwest Garo Hills, Ampati, Vikash Varma, the recovered ammunition was seized on the spot in the presence of independent witnesses, following all prescribed legal procedures. Police said further investigation was initiated to ascertain the source of the ammunition and to identify those invol...

The Meghalaya government has released Rs 79.5 crore to clear a 12-month salary backlog for employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Tuesday. The funds have been deposited into an escrow account to ensure that payments reach the affected workers promptly. Of the total allocation, Rs 11 crore represents outstanding dues owed directly to GHADC employees, while the remaining Rs 68.5 crore has been provided as an advance against future royalty payments, ensuring continued financial stability for the council’s staff. The move comes after prolonged delays that had left employees awaiting their full salaries for an entire year. In addition to addressing the salary backlog, the state cabinet approved the Meghalaya State Educati...

The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Sunday said it is ready to review its policy on toll and check gates. KHADC Executive Member in-charge of Trade, Winston Tony Lyngdoh said the council will follow any directive of the District Council Affairs (DCA) department on the setting up of toll and check gates. However, he added that the council’s Executive Committee (EC) will have to find out if there is any such directive in this regard. “We are not aware but we will definitely examine if there is such a directive,” Lyngdoh said. The DCA department had previously written to the secretary of the EC of KHADC regarding the re-opening of check gates within the council’s territory. The department had reiterated that a no-objection certificate (NOC) must be obtained from the des...

Even as pressure groups in Meghalaya continue to oppose any railway projects in the Khasi Hills, the Ministry of Railways has made it clear that it remains committed to connecting the region including Shillong through railway infrastructure. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking informally with journalists during the Waves Summit in Mumbai, asserted that the Ministry will not give up on its efforts to provide the people of Meghalaya with an affordable and efficient mode of transportation. “We will never stop pursuing this, and we are actively engaging with the concerned authorities,” the Union Minister said. Vaishnaw acknowledged the persistent opposition to railway projects in the state but emphasized that the Ministry remains focused on long-term connectivity goals. Ra...